Collapsible gate for chain-link fence gateway

ABSTRACT

Device includes a U-shape frame mounted on a continuation portion of the fabric of a chain-like fence extending beyond one side of a supporting post of the fence into a gateway. The continuation portion of the fence fabric is the gate. The parallel leg members of the U-shape frame are disposed horizontally and are slidably received in two tubular members mounted on the fence on the opposite side of the supporting post. Movement of the parallel leg members inwardly of the tubular members causes the continuation portion of the fence fabric to collapse longitudinally to open the gateway and movement of the parallel leg members outwardly of the tubular members causes the gate portion of the fence fabric to expand longitudinally to close the gateway.

[1 1: 3,724,527 1 Apr. 3, 1973 United States Patent 1191 3 Johns a .nMr. mm na 6 f F6 6 5 9 .l 4

William H. Johns, Hudson, Ohio [73] Assignee: United States SteelCorporation Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Donald S. Ferito22 Filed: Mar.2, 1972 [21] Appl.No.:'231,280

ABSTRACT I Device includes a U -sl1ape frame mounted on a con- .160/368,49/55, 49/427 tinuation portion of the fabric of a chain-like fence ex-[51] Int. Cl. 3/00 386,191,55, 364,

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close the gateway.

FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 217,319 9/1958Australia...................... ....49/3s1 2Claims,3Drawing FiguresCOLLAPSIBLE GATE FOR CHAIN-LINK FENCE GATEWAY The present inventionrelates generally to fencing and more particularly to a collapsible gateespecially suitable for use in the gateway of a chain-link woven fabricfence.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of my invention to provide acollapsible gate for a fence made of chainlink woven wire fabricsupported by spaced upright anchored posts and having a gateway adjacentone of the posts. The gate contemplated includes a continuation portionof the chain-link fabric extending beyond the one post a distancesufficient to span the gateway; a U-shape frame interwoven in thecontinuation portion 'of the fence with its parallel leg membersdisposed horizontally and slidably telescoped into two tubular membersaffixed to the fence on the side of the post remote from the gateway;whereby movement of the parallel leg members inwardly of the tubularmembers causes the continuation portion of the fence fabric to collapselongitudinally to open the gateway while opposite movement of theparallel leg members causes the gate portion of the fence fabric toexpand longitudinally to close the gateway.

This and other objects will become more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawing, in which: 1

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a chain-link fence havingthe gate ofthe invention installed therein, the gate being shown in closed positionby solid lines and in open position by broken lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial elevational view showing the gate of theinvention in closed position; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the lineIII-III of FIG. 2. I

Referring w more particularly to reference numeral 2 designatesgenerally a chain-link fence made of woven fabric formed of verticallydisposed interlocking pickets 4 which may be made of metal wire, plasticfilaments or other suitable material. The fence 2 includes a pluralityof spaced upright supporting posts 6 anchored in concrete or similarmaterial 8. A tension bar 10 is attached to terminal posts 6 and 6" bymeans ofa pair of clamps 12. The clamps 12 also serve to attach a pairof vertically spaced, horizontally disposed parallel tubular members 14to the fence for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter. Theends of the tubular members 14 opposite the terminal post 6' areattached to the adjacent supporting post 6- also by clamps 12. Thetension bars 10 are each interwoven vertically in the pickets adjacentone side of each of the supporting terminal posts 6' and 6" to tensionthe fabric of the fence and attach it to the terminal posts.

The fence 2 is formed with a gateway 16 between the two adjacentterminal posts 6 and 6" which is selectively opened and closed by thegate assembly, designated generally by reference numeral 18, of myinvention.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gate assembly of the inventioncomprises a continuation portion 20 of the chain-link fabric of thefence which extends away from the side of terminal post 6 remote fromits respective tension bar 10. The continuation portion 20 is ofsufficient length to span the gateway 16 between the terminal posts 6'and 6". A U-shape frame 22 havthe drawing,

ing-spaced parallel horizontal legs 24 connected at one end by avertical leg 26 is affixed to the continuation portion 20 of the fencefabric with the vertical leg 26 interwoven vertically through theterminal picket 4' and the parallel legs 24 interwoven horizontallythrough the pickets 4 of the continuation portion 20 of the fencefabric. The free ends of the legs 24 are slidably telescoped in thetubular members 14.

A conventional latch 28 which selectively engages the vertical leg 26 ofthe frame 22 is pivotally mounted on terminal post 6" to lock the gateassembly of the invention in closed position. A depending stub on thelatch 28 fits slidably into an opening in a block 29 which is rigidlyattached to the vertical leg 26 of frame In operation, when it isdesired to open the gateway 16,-the latch 28 is pivoted on the terminalpost 6" to disengage the latch stub from block 29 and the U- shapedframe 22 is manipulated to move the legs 24 inwardly of the tubularmembers 14. This causes the continuation portion 20 of the fence fabricto collapse longitudinally and be-compressed against the terminal post6', as best shown by broken lines in FIG. 1, to open the gateway 16,.Latching means, such as a pin 30 attached to a chain 31, is adapted tofitin matching holes 14' and 24 in theupper tubular member 14 and upperleg 24, respectively, to maintain the gate in open position. The pin 30is attached to the upper clamp 12 on tern minal post 6 and is ofsufficient lengthto permit inserting the pin 30 into the top sides ofthe holes 14' and 24' when the gate is open and the holes 14 and 24' arein registry. If desired, the pin 30 and holes 14 and 24' may be omittedsince the wire fabric has a natural tendency to remain substantially'II'll collapsed position once it is put into this position.

When it is desired to close the gateway 16, the frame 22 is manipulatedto move the parallel legs 24 outwardly of the tubular members 14. Thiscauses the continuation portion 20 of the fence fabric to expandlongitudinally toward the terminal post 6", thus closing the gateway.After the gateway'has thus been closed, the latch 28 may be manipulatedto insert its stub projection into block 29 and lock the gate in closedposition.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, other adaptationsand modifications may be made without departing from the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a chain-link fence made up of wire fabric formed by interlockedpickets supported in tensioned upright position by a plurality of spacedupright anchored posts, said fence including a gateway adjacent one ofsaid posts, the improvement therewith of two vertically spaced parallelhorizontal legs connected, at one end by a vertical leg, said U-shapethat being ats when said parallel legs are moved outwardly of saidtubular members.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including locking means for securingsaid continuation portion in expanded position to close said gateway andlocking means for securing said continuation portion-in collapsedcondition to maintain said gateway open.

1. In a chain-link fence made up of wire fabric formed by interlockedpickets supported in tensioned upright position by a plurality of spacedupright anchored posts, said fence including a gateway adjacent one ofsaid posts, the improvement therewith of a collapsible gate forselectively opening and closing said gateway, said gate comprising acontinuation portion of said fence fabric extending from one side ofsaid one of said posts, said portion of said fence fabric being ofsufficient length to span said gateway, a pair of vertically spacedhorizontally disposed substantially parallel tubular members attached tosaid fence extending from a point adjacent said one of said posts to apoint remote from said gateway, a substantially U-shape bar having twovertically spaced parallel hoRizontal legs connected at one end by avertical leg, said U-shape bar being attached to said portion of saidfence fabric with said parallel legs and said vertical leg interwoven inthe pickets of said portion of said fence fabric with the free ends ofsaid parallel legs slidably telescoped one in each of said tubularmembers, said fence fabric portion being adapted to be longitudinallycollapsed to open said gateway when said parallel legs of said U-shapemember are moved inwardly of said tubular members and to expandlongitudinally to close said gateway when said parallel legs are movedoutwardly of said tubular members.
 2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1including locking means for securing said continuation portion inexpanded position to close said gateway and locking means for securingsaid continuation portion in collapsed condition to maintain saidgateway open.